NEW YORK – The stage is set for thousands of America’s most determined furry competitors.
From the grand and mighty to the petite and playful, each dog is vying for the top honor at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, celebrating its remarkable 150th anniversary.
Could this be the year Comet the shih tzu finally clinches the title after narrowly missing out the past two years? Perhaps Neal the bichon frisé, another 2025 finalist making a return, has a shot. Or maybe Zaida the Afghan hound, a two-time World Dog Show champion, will finally reach the Westminster finals.
The coveted prize might also fall into the paws of another familiar face or perhaps surprise us with an unexpected victor.
Here’s everything you need to know about the United States’ most esteemed dog competition.
When is the Westminster Dog Show?
The breed-by-breed judging — officially called “conformation” — happens Monday and Tuesday, at a combination of the Javits Center convention hall and Madison Square Garden. Best in show is awarded at the Garden around 11 p.m. EST Tuesday.
For fans who can’t be there in person, Fox Sports is showing the event’s various components on FS1 and FS2 and its various streaming platforms. Westminster is streaming some, as well.
How many dogs are there?
Some 2,500 dogs from 212 breeds and varieties (subsets of breeds) are signed up to compete. (No doodles, though. These popular poodle mixes aren’t recognized as distinct breeds by the American Kennel Club, the governing body for Westminster and many other U.S. dog shows.) There are contestants from every U.S. state and 18 other countries.
A few hundred more dogs, including mixed-breed ones, competed Saturday in Westminster’s agility and flyball contests.
Who are some dogs to watch?
Besides Comet, Neal and Zaida, entrants include Soleil, a Belgian sheepdog who won the National Dog Show televised last Thanksgiving Day, and a Lhasa apso called JJ, who triumphed at the huge AKC National Championship that aired in late December. The runners-up from those shows — George, an American foxhound, and a Gordon setter named River — also are due at Westminster.
And keep an eye out for Baby Joe, a miniature schnauzer who topped national dog show standings for 2025. Don’t forget Penny the Doberman pinscher, who’s been climbing the rankings since her crowd-pleasing turn in last year’s Westminster semifinals. There’s also a high-ranking Chesapeake Bay retriever, a prominent papillon and many other buzzy contenders.
But anything can happen at Westminster, a champions-only show where every contestant is a proven winner. Cognoscenti often say victory goes to “the dog on the day,” meaning the one that has the performance of a lifetime.
Whichever dog the judge chooses, others sometimes run away with the audience’s heart.
A 2020 crowd fave, Daniel the golden retriever, is among eight past finalists or winners set to return for a special presentation Monday night. So are some other 2020 finalists, Bono the Havanese, Wilma the boxer — and Siba, the standard poodle who defeated them all to claim that year’s best in show award. Do show dogs hold grudges? We shall see.
What makes a dog best in show?
First, dogs are judged against others of their breed. Then each breed winner goes up against others in its “group,” such as terriers or herding dogs. In the final round, the seven group winners compete for best in show.
At each level, judges decide which dog best matches the ideal, or “standard,” for its own breed.
What breeds win most?
Wire fox terriers (15 wins), followed by poodles of various sizes (11).
Many breeds haven’t won yet, including such favorites as Labrador and golden retrievers. But never say never: Last year’s winner, Monty, was the first giant schnauzer chosen as best in show. He then retired from showing but is expected to join Monday’s special tribute to Westminster “legends.”
What do winners get?
Bragging rights, ribbons and trophies. There are no cash prizes, though the agility winner gets to direct a $5,000 Westminster donation to a training club or to the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.
Why are there protests?
Animal welfare activists routinely protest the Westminster show. They see it as an irresponsible canine beauty contest that overlooks shelter dogs’ predicament and some purebreds’ health problems.
For Westminster’s milestone show this year, PETA plans to demonstrate outside the show and has erected billboards nearby with such messages as “flat-faced dogs struggle to breathe,” echoing aspects of the animal rights group’s ongoing lawsuit against the American Kennel Club. The AKC has called the case frivolous and is trying to get it dismissed.
The Westminster club notes that it donates to rescue groups, veterinary scholarships and other endeavors that help dogs. Club President Donald Sturz says that “shows an overarching commitment to responsible dog ownership and responsible dog breeding.”
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